Cricketers, not footballers
With Joe Denly being the latest England cricketer injured during a football warmup, you wonder just what is going on. England’s disastrous first morning in the Ashes Test at Headingley was prompted by an injury to Matt Prior, yet they do not seem to have learnt their lesson. Denly is now likely to miss the ODI starting tomorrow.
Just how seriously are the players taking their football? I have had countless kickabouts in my time, but never been injured, and you have to wonder if England are treating it as a cup final rather than a warmup. Here’s a quote from Andrew Strauss:
The reason we’ve played football in the past is because it’s something the guys enjoy and it’s a good way of getting the blood flowing [Source - Sky Sports]
If “getting the blood flowing” is a euphemism for launching into tackles and generally playing like Roy Keane, then why do they continue to do it? Has nobody had the sense to say “hang on a minute lads, be sensible”? Here is Strauss again:
When we do play football in the morning we have a ‘no tackling rule’ but I’m not sure it was heeded today
Really, these are proffessional cricketers who should know better. But this is yet more evidence of the lack of accountability amongst the England team that was so vexing Andy Flower earlier this year. These things can happen, but for it to happen a second time is unlikely to be down to misfortune.
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